go on well. "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof." The Christian is still in a world of temptation; therefore he has need of habitual watchfulness. That he may glorify God, and secure his own benefit, he must seek to advance in the Divine life. Knowledge, holiness, and happiness are capable of constant progression. The life of God in the soul is to appear in all the outward acts of the life. The connection between the text and the preceding verse is remarkable. The Apostle there prays for a fulness of knowledge: "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." He now prays for a fulness of holiness: "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work." The will of God, when known, must be obeyed. The great Teacher said, "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." True religion is practical, Matt. vii. 16-27. The belief of the Gospel cleanses the fountain, and then it pours forth pure streams of Christian influence, John vii. 38. I. The great end of a godly life.-This is to please God: "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing," that is, so as to please him in all things. The Apostle would have believers live as the followers of Christ. What is the chief end of man? "The chief end of man is to glorify God, and enjoy him for ever." This object appeared supremely important in the estimation of Paul; and so it is in the estimation of every good man. That you may be impressed with the im mense importance of pleasing God, consider the infinite glory of his perfections. What is God? Who is he? What are his claims? Ought we not to think of God in his existence, government, and glorious perfections ? Think of his knowledge: he knows the exact state of each individual. Think of his holiness: he cannot connive at sin. Think of his power: he can punish his enemies, and reward his friends. Think of his love: this is an inexhaustible fountain of blessing. Think of his immutability: he is of one mind, and who can turn him? How important to enjoy the favour of such a Being! Think also of the nature of the relationship existing between you and God. Ought not an intelligent creature to please his Creator? Ought not a subject to obey his king? Ought not a child to honour his father? What guilt must be involved in the neglect of such claims ! Then think again of the immense benefits which you have received from the hand of God. Ought there to be no return? Is not gratitude a just claim? How suitable the question, "What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me?" Think, too, of the momentous account which you have to render to Him who will judge the world in righteousness. Can you render in this account with joy, if the tendency of your life is to displease God? Suppose you die under his frown,-hell will be your eternal dwelling place : "The wicked shall be turned into hell." And think also of the present as well as future advantages of pleasing God. This secures a present secret satisfaction that is worth far more than all the world can offer: "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." This is the end at which the truly godly aim. They aim to please God; and this implies consideration, care, determination. II. The means which the godly are to use in order to secure this important object. The Apostle has given us information on this important subject. They cannot do anything to merit his favour. When they have done their best, they have only done their duty; therefore there can be no merit in it. Besides, their best performances are imperfect; they fall short of the standard placed before them in the Holy Scriptures; therefore are occasions, not of boasting, but of humiliation. The only ground of our acceptance before God is the meritorious obedience of Christ. This is perfect, and the merit of it is reckoned to the account of all who believe in him. Sanctification is the evidence of our justification, and not its foundation. Then let us cherish internal, universal, constant, progressive holiness; and God, in Christ, will smile upon our souls. He cannot but be pleased with conformity to his will. Would you please God? 1. Then diligently improve the means which he has given for your advancement in Scriptural knowledge: "Increasing in the knowledge of God." There is very much in reference to God which as yet we do not know. Knowledge requires application: "Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord." The neglect of this knowledge pours contempt upon God, as if he were unworthy of our attention. 2. Knowledge of God's will reduced to practice, according to our means of improvement, is pleasing to God: "Being fruitful in every good work." This is a metaphorical expression, taken from a tree; not every tree, but one bearing fruit. The godly are sometimes compared to trees, Psa. i. 3. Now, no tree can bear fruit unless it has a life-giving seed within it. There is in the souls of the godly a living principle of holiness, implanted by the Holy Spirit, 1 John iii. 9. Then fruitful trees are planted in a suitable place, and in suitable soil; and the pruningknife is necessary for some trees. Trees do not bear fruit for themselves; neither do the godly. They are "trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified." God requires good works. These are the effect of a good principle. Principles are to practice what a root is to a tree. Faith, love, and godly fear, are good principles, which yield good fruit. Good works are performed in obedience to the revealed will of God, and have respect to his glory. The Gospel requires that we should be fruitful in every good work. Some may be fruitful in one, but not in another. are honest, but not benevolent; others are benevolent, but not sober; others sober, but not kind. Ministers, parents, children, servants, masters,-all professing godliness, are required to be fruitful in every good work. The requirement is reasonable. God has given us abundant and suitable means of fruitfulness, Isa. v. 1-6. Fruitfulness is a good evidence of the soundness of our conversion, is highly beneficial to others, glorifies God, and will meet with a glorious reward of grace. This cannot be realized apart from Christ, John xv. 1-8. And means must be used. Would you be fruitful Some in every good work? Then read God's in God? And if the Christian religion Word, wait upon him in his ordinances, be Divine, how great must be our reassociate with his people, pray for Di-sponsibility! Let us seek to realize vine aid, meditate on Gospel truth, this. This glorious religion must have and follow good examples. Avoid a powerful claim to our belief, attachhindrances. Watch against secret ment, and cordial reception. sins, spiritual declension, resistance to the stirrings of the Spirit within you. Walk with God. Keep your eye upon the great Model. Cherish the inner life. Hearken daily to the voice of your exalted Lord, Occupy till I come.' 3. The cultivation of a Christian spirit under the trials of life is pleasing to God: "Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering, with joyfulness." Patience and joy in affliction are the precious fruits of confidence in the wisdom, love, and faithfulness of God. His power can enable us to bear our trials, not only with patience, but even with joyfulness. His power is a glorious power. This can sustain us in the heaviest storm, in the darkest night, in the hottest fire. The Scriptures give us examples of this : "The Lord upholdeth the righteous." Surely that power which upholds the universe can uphold them. This girds the soul with moral power. strength is made perfect in weakness. Patience in tribulation pleases God. This glorifies all his attributes. This recognizes his hand, bows to his will, sees love in the bitter cup. Would you please God in affliction? Then be still, and know that he is God. His Here let us see the Divine origin of the Christian religion. Such a religion as this, which requires us to be fruitful in every good work, must be from God. The effects must have an adequate cause, and where can you find this but The Church of God has great cause for humiliation before God. Has she been fruitful in every good work? Has she not come short in many things? Has she been duly careful to increase in the knowledge of God? Her shortcomings have been many, and there ought to be contrition. The moral state of the world shows the importance of prosperity in the Church, that she may put forth all her strength for its salvation. Knowledge and holiness are necessary for her usefulness. Here let me see the miserable state of the ungodly. They are fruitful, but it is in sin. They require a radical change of heart; the nature of the soil must be changed; the soul must be renewed by the Holy Ghost. Unholy men are not actuated by any true concern to please God. What is your state? Are you in God's favour? Are you anxious to please Him? What is the aim of your life? True desires to please God lead to action. Unless they do, they are of no value. Hearken to the words of Paul: "They that are in the flesh cannot please God." Then let us revolve this important question in our minds, Am I in the flesh, or in the Spirit? Reader! what is the answer? Will death find you in a state of nature or of grace? H. H. August 3, 1852. THE SEARCH AFTER HAPPINESS. BEING of an inquisitive disposition, I naturally conceived the idea of ac quainting myself with the pursuits of man, and the purposes of his life. After careful observation I found that his whole object and aim was the attainment of happiness. Numerous and varied are the paths he traverses; from the dictates of the first tender bud of thought which germinates in the mind of youth, until it expands into the lofty aims and aspirations of the matured intellect. But all the ways of his own making converge into one common centre-disappointment; I saw one in all the freshness of youth, impelled by the vigour of an ardent temperament, travelling with assiduous perseverance the already well-beaten path of fame. He sought to engrave his name in the souvenir of time,-to earn a place amongst the great ones of the earth; for surely, thought he, happiness will be the result. He dived into the deep recesses of Nature. He ploughed the classic field. He dashed aside the obstacles to his mental elevation with astonishing rapidity. He bounded forth to scholastic eminence, and bid fair to rise to a distinguished niche in the Temple of Fame. This was his motto, The wise and active conquer difficulties By daring to attempt them; sloth and folly Shiver and sink at sight of toil and hazard, And make the impossibilities they fear." I admired his high resolves and persevering diligence, although I lamented that his energies were devoted to that which, in this life, is impossible to obtain; and diverted from the only channel which leads to true happiness. I watched him until I saw his extraordinary application to his favourite pursuits produced a fatal disease. Death touched him with his icy hand. The hopes he had cherished, and the dazzling anticipations he fondly thought to realize, were blighted at once and for ever! He had confined his search to earth, and he had reaped its fruit. His talents-his energies-the whole effort of his life, were one vast bubble of abortiveness and failure. It was Another devoted himself to the acquisition of wealth, in the vain hope it would bring along with it-happiness. He also had mistaken the road. However requisite money may be to procure the necessaries of life, an inordinate desire after it will secure a plentiful reward of pain and anxiety. so in the case in question. I saw him later on in life. He had obtained influence, and heaped together gold in abundance; he had risen to power and magnificence; many thought him happy; but he was old before his time; and could they have penetrated the inmost recesses of his heart, they would have beheld an aching void, a desolate blank-all his wealth could not fill. Everything in this world may be purchased except life and happiness. They are priceless! The jingling of money effects them not. He had been long in the search after happiness; but the object of his search was a phantom, a spectre, a fanciful conjuration of his brain. It vanished from him, it eluded his grasp; he reaped the bitter fruit of his misemployed talents in disappointment, vexation, and sorrow. I observed also another; but, as if profiting by the experience of others, he was pursuing a different path altogether. He was not, neither desired to be, rich in this world's goods. But he dealt largely in the commodities of heaven. You need not, I ween, to have inquired of him if he was happy. He knew TRUE happiness had no dwelling place on earth, and could only be found in heaven. But he had got an earnest of it. Satisfaction sat upon his brow, and illuminated his countenance; and he knew he should have as much of it as would conduce to his best interests; enough to keep him dissatisfied with earth, and fix his eye on heaven; and sufficient to cheer his path through life. More he wanted not. He often consulted the pages of the Book of Wisdom; he learned from it that he should drink more freely hereafter from the Fountain of Happiness; and he believed it would even be communicated to him in proportion to his constantly increasing desires, and grow ing capacities to receive it, which alone could make it perfect. Here I left him, not wishing to disturb his meditations. I felt convinced that in the judgment of all good men, and even in the estimate of heaven, he was in the true and only road to perfect happiness. E. S. A. CHRISTIAN RESOLUTIONS. 1. Resolved, That as I am a sinner, redeemed by the blood of Christ, I will do all that I can to save the souls for whom he died. 2. Resolved, That to prepare myself to do good to others, I will strive to have the same mind in me which was in Jesus Christ. 3. Resolved, That I will from time to time select from among my neighbours some one or more individuals with whom I will, in tenderness and affection, labour steadily, daily if possible, or even many times a day, until God shall either bring them to Christ, or I shall be convinced that I should give them up. 4. Resolved, That I will carry those with whom I thus labour, on my heart, and pray for them continually, and with them frequently, if they will permit me so to do. 5. Resolved, That while I labour, and pray for the salvation of sinners, I will depend alone on the Holy Ghost to make me successful in my work. THE DEATH OF HUME. We To a man who solemnly believes the truth of revelation, and therefore the threatening of Divine vengeance against the despisers of it, this scene will present as mournful a spectacle as perhere behold a man of great talents haps the sun ever shone upon. and invincible perseverance, entering on his career with the profession of an impartial inquirer after truth, met at every stage and step by the evidences and expostulations of religion, and the claims of the Creator, but devoting his labours to the pursuit of fame and the promotion of impiety, at length acquiring and accomplishing, as he declared himself, all he had intended and desired, and descending towards the close of life amidst tranquillity, widely-extending reputation, and the homage of the great and learned. We behold him appointed soon to appear before the Judge to whom he had never alluded without malice or con tempt; yet preserving, to appearance, an entire self-complacency, idly jesting about his approaching dissolution, and mingling with the insane sport his reference to the fall of superstition, a term of which the meaning is hardly even dubious when expressed by such men. We behold him at last carried off, and we seem to hear the following moment, from the darkness in which he vanishes, the shriek of surprise and terror, and the overpowering accents of the messenger of vengeance. On the whole globe there probably was not acting at the time as mournful a tragedy as that of which the friends of |